Hi everybody!

My clinic visit on Monday went really well, and I don't have to go back until July. Monday was the 4th anniversary of my biopsy; Flappy will be 4 in 2 weeks. WOW! The resident who was working with my doc was concerned about something she'd seen on my flap. It was nothing new; a former tooth (what was left of it has been pulled) rubbed against my flap and a callous developed. He said "at least I don't have to talk to you about cancer". An odd but happy statement to be sure.

I have a job interview tomorrow (22 Jan) with the Midwest Eye Bank. Keeping my fingers crossed. My doctor knows my situation and has offered to let me use him as a reference. What a guy!

Oh, yeah, there was something else. Happened yesterday. What the XXXX was it? Right. A proud day for America. As I listened to Mr Obama take the oath of office I wept like I'd never wept before (not loud, thank goodness--I was in the public library). I wish him luck. My wish list from him is to get the economy going (MI has a 10% unemployment rate) and single-payer health care.

Hope you're all well.

Me too, Julia! Congratulations.

Just got home from my onc appt - he says I'm still cancer free! The blip on the PET/CT scan was from a small lesion that he says was no more than a tooth, toothbrush, hard bread crust or something that must have scraped inside my cheek, and that whatever it was isn't there any more. He took his time with that @%*&$! scope so of course I hated him with the white hot intensity of one thousand suns for as long as it was in there.

A recap:

Jan 8, 2008 - Nurse Practitioner said there was an 'area of concern' on my left tonsil. Makes appt with ENT

Jan 10 - ENT does biopsy

Jan 11 - Biopsy result: tonsil cancer

Jan 15 - CAT scan

Jan 16 - Join this board

Jan 17 - Appt with radiation oncologist

Jan 21 - Simulation

Feb 14 - First day of rads

Apr 3 - Last day of rads

It hasn't even been a year since I started treatment but it feels like the longest year of my life.

Thanks to everyone for being with me during this preview of hell!

Julia - Oh, yeah! I thought my Location expressed my political thoughts so never included any in my messages - this really isn't an appropriate place for politics, but today is different. A very proud day and one that had me teary eyed (well, I've been that way since Election Day) as well as smiling like a goon. I'll remove my bumper sticker and change my Location when he screws up!

Mimi

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mimi McC,

Good news girls! I am heartened to hear the cheering news that you have received.

As for the new Lord and Saviour of the Free World...well, only time will tell. I certainly wasn't impressed with him not being able to recite his oath of allegiance despite having several months to learn it. However, he did manage to deliver his speech quite faultlessly...thank Heavens for auto-cue!

He certainly does seem charasmatic, mind you, so did William Jefferson Clinton. Even if he had a mind to, with the mother-in-law living in the White House, I don't think he'll be able to get up to any hanky panky.

A good day out certainly seemed to be had by all, and at $53 million for the day I should bleedin' well hope so!!

Oh well, it doesn't matter how you vote, the government always wins.

Ray

PS I read that he had to be sworn in for a second time as he cocked up the first attempt! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/obama_inauguration/7843881.stm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Big Ray,

That is great news Julia, wishing you good luck for your job interview ,keep calm and be positive .Mimi great news for you also, looks as if the two of you have definatley got a reason to have one of Deborah and Trev's parties .

Watched the celebrations of your new President on TV, he seems to be full of energy and very popular , definately would appear to have the X factor as they say over here .So another reason for celebrations Girls !! .

Bell.

Mimi and Julia,

Congratulations on your scan results. What fantastic news. I am already suffering severe anxeity about Chaz's scan - not due for another 2 weeks, so I can't imagine how you are both feeling. The drs gave him a very perfunctory endescope last week, but I never feel satisfied. They seem so much more interested in how he is recovering from treatment than his cancer! It really bothers me that he is constantly clearing his throat, still gets a sore throat when eating in the evening and breathes very alarmingly through his mouth when he sleeps. Is this all due to dry mouth?

Having said all that, Chaz is on great form, we collected our convertible yesterday and it happened to be lovely day so we took a drive on the front. He does seem very positive at the moment.

I too watched Obama's inaugaration ceremony and have to admit that I didn't cry on that occasion though I did at his victory speech. What a brilliant orator he is. He may have had a teleprompter, but boy can he deliver. He certainly puts our lot to shame. I know he has a huge task on his hand and personally have modest expectations about what he is likely to achieve. However, I am still absolutely thrilled that the American people voted a black man into the Whitehouse. Its something I never thought I would see in my lifetime and gives me some hope that we may be entering a phase of global change when social justice gets more political attention and the flawed capitalist models gets exposed for what it is. Having someone in the Whitehouse who has spent years as a community organizer and has first hand experience of life in poor villages in Kenya has got to help.

Cathy

Amen, Sistah!

Cathy

I am SO envious! What kind of convertible? My dad bought a 1968 Pontiac Bonneville ragtop when I was 5 years old. When we got Bonnie, she was a hideous green/gold color, but dad painted her red a few years later. My brother, sister and I all drove Bonnie. My brother also had a 1965 GTO, gold with champagne interior. Beautiful, noisy car. But, I digress. The temperature has finally gone above 0 F, but we have more snow in Ypsilanti than we've had in years.

Endoscope? Bluck! I had one along with my biopsy. That stupid little light on the end made the world pink, and the anesthetic made my forehead all tingly and my upper teeth felt all wobbly--like they'd fall out. If that ain't fun, I don't know what is.

Julia and Mimi, I'm glad you're both still in the cancer ass kicking department and I hope the interview went well Julia.
CathyS, I hope Chaz's scan goes ok and nicely done on getting a convertible. My wife wants one but I keep telling her that for the 4 nice days a year we get here in Devon it's hardly worth it .
Hang in there everyone. Hagg

Thanks, Hagg!

All this week I've been wearing a badge that my sister made for me as a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. It's got a picture of Mr. Potato Head, sticking his tongue out and flexing his arms. Underneath the picture it says "I Licked Tongue Cancer."

Flappy certainly is a conversation piece.

Thanks for your kind wishes. The convertible is a bit of a boring 4 seater BMW, but as we are sometimes a 3 person family that travels long distances with lots of stuff, we decided that was the most practical option. VWs and Minis were lovely but just didn't have enough space.

Hagg, don't be put off by the weather. We are in Brighton and the weather has been nice enough 2 days this week to put the lid down and cruise along the seafront though I have to say the heating system is bloody marvellous. It has certainly given Chaz a lift, which was the main objective of the purchase.
C